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Epidemiology

This type of degeneration is thought to represent ~4% of all types of degeneration.

Pathology

When the leiomyomas increase in size, the vascular supply to it becomes inadequate and leads to different types of degeneration which are hyaline, cystic, myxoid, or red degeneration and dystrophic calcification may also occur.Hyalinization is the commonest type of degeneration. Cystic degeneration is an extreme sequel of oedema.

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

May show a hypoechoic or heterogeneous uterine mass with cystic areas.

MRI

Fibroids with this type of degeneration may show cystic areas with portions of a high T2 signal on MRI 1.